Vacuuming: A Key to Clean Indoor Air Quality
With Americans spending about 90 percent of their time indoors where they can be exposed to tiny pollutants that trigger allergies and asthma, experts recommend that facility managers implement a number of interventions, including a focus on vacuuming to reduce exposure. Part of that process entails creating a floor plan that shows all areas that receive the heaviest foot traffic so they can be prioritized for cleaning. Carpets should be deep cleaned at least twice per year, using carpet dryers or fans after the job is complete to prevent any remaining moisture from producing mold. When vacuuming carpets and hard surface floors, it should be done with slow and repeated passes, with the heaviest traffic areas receiving at least two vacuum passes per day. Clean floors faster by removing dry dirt with a vacuum instead of a dry mop before wet-mopping; brooms and mops push dirt and allergens across the floor and into the air, while vacuuming removes them. Don't forget to pay special attention to walk-off mats. Finally, managers and staff will want to use high-quality HEPA-filter vacuums to thoroughly clean and reduce allergens on multiple surfaces, including tile.